Fall River Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction is woven into Fall River's identity, from the mills that line the Quequechan River to modern projects like the Route 79/Braga Bridge improvements and the long-awaited South Coast Rail extension. Unfortunately, the same cranes, scaffolds, and excavation trenches that drive our city’s growth also put workers and bystanders at risk. When a serious workplace injury or fatality happens, victims quickly discover that Massachusetts construction law is a patchwork of workers' compensation rules, OSHA safety standards, third-party negligence principles, and strict filing deadlines. Get in touch with our team of experienced Fall River construction accident lawyers for a clear, legally accurate roadmap, so you can protect your rights and focus on healing.

Our Fall River personal injury team is standing by to help you and your loved ones.

While every site is unique, investigations show that several recurring hazards cause most construction accidents:

• Falls from heights are caused by unguarded roof edges, missing mid-rails on scaffolds, unsafe ladder footing, or incomplete decking.
• Struck-by incidents: falling bricks, rebar, or tools; swinging crane loads; vehicles backing without spotters.
• Caught between hazards: trench cave-ins, along water-main repairs, unshored foundation excavations, or workers caught between moving equipment and a fixed object.
• Electrocutions: contact with energized overhead lines during bucket-truck work, faulty temporary wiring, or failure to lock out/tag out panel boards during mill renovations.
• Heat stress and chemical exposure: confined-space welding in shipyard projects, asphalt fumes during summer paving, or silica dust from concrete cutting inside closed mill floors.

These injuries range from fractures and spinal cord damage to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputation, and occupational illnesses that surface months or years later.

Massachusetts workers' compensation, as outlined in M.G.L. c. 152, is a no-fault system that bars lawsuits against your direct employer but does not shield other negligent parties. Our Fall River injury lawyers understand that potential third-party defendants may include:

• General contractors who fail to enforce OSHA-compliant safety plans.
• Subcontractors who are responsible for leaving debris in access ways or removing guardrails too early.
• Equipment manufacturers whose defective scissor-lifts or nail guns malfunction.
• Property owners or developers who were aware of hidden site defects but chose to ignore them.
• Engineering or architectural firms whose plans violate code-mandated load-bearing standards.

A carefully structured case often pursues both avenues: collecting prompt workers' compensation benefits while filing a separate lawsuit for negligence or product liability against any responsible third party.

Understanding the difference between these two paths is critical:

• Workers' Compensation. Covers medical care, a percentage of lost wages, and permanent impairment awards. Paid without proving fault, benefits may not fully replace your income or non-economic losses. Cannot provide punitive damages or compensation for pain and suffering.
• Third-Party Negligence or Product Liability. Requires proof that another person or company breached a duty of care, directly causing harm. Opens the door to fulleconomic and non-economic damages, including pain, suffering, loss of consortium, and future diminished earning capacity. Any settlement or verdict must address the workers' compensation insurer's statutory lien under M.G.L. c. 152 § 15; a skilled lawyer negotiates to maximize your net recovery.

• Workers' Compensation Notice: Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible, preferably the same day, to create a clear paper trail.
• Workers' Compensation Claim: File with the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) within four years of discovering the connection between work and injury (but waiting jeopardizes credibility and back benefits).
• Personal Injury Lawsuit: Most third-party construction cases follow Massachusetts' three-year statute of limitations for negligence claims. Delays can permanently bar your case, so early legal counsel is essential.
• Wrongful Death: Families generally have three years from the date of death to file a lawsuit, and the estate's executor must initiate the claim.
• Evidence Preservation: Many construction scenes change within hours. Spoliation letters, expert site inspections, and OSHA requests should be initiated immediately to preserve proof.

In a successful third-party action, recoverable damages may include:

• All past and future medical and rehabilitation expenses.
• Complete wage loss from the date of injury through projected retirement, including overtime differentials and union fringe benefits.
• Pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Scarring and disfigurement compensation under special Massachusetts jury instructions.
• Vocational re-training costs if you can no longer work in heavy construction.
• Wrongful death damages for funeral costs, loss of reasonably expected net income, loss of parental guidance, and conscious pain and suffering of the decedent.
• Punitive damages are rare cases involving gross negligence or willful OSHA violations resulting in death.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers' approach blends local knowledge, technical resources, and decades of trial experience:

• Rapid site response: We deploy investigators, often former OSHA or insurance professionals, to photograph evidence and interview co-workers before memories fade.
• An expert team of safety engineers, metallurgists, construction management professors, and life-care planners translates complex facts into clear, concise trial testimony.
• Document acquisition: We subpoena daily field reports, toolbox-talk logs, crane inspection certificates, and "as-built" plans that can reveal hidden code violations.
• Workers' Compensation Coordination: Our attorneys work closely with your DIA file to ensure benefits continue flowing while we litigate the negligence claim.
• Lien reduction strategies: We negotiate Section 15 liens aggressively, so the workers' comp carrier shares the cost of obtaining your recovery, leaving more in your pocket.
• Trial readiness: While many cases settle at mediation, we prepare every file for trial in New Bedford Superior Court or the U.S. District Court in Boston, which often drives higher offers.

Your health and legal position both depend on decisive action:

• Seek emergency treatment and follow up with specialists. Gaps in care hurt your body and your claim.
• Report the incident in writing to a supervisor or safety officer; keep a copy or photograph of the report for your records.
• Collect co-worker names and cell numbers before the crew is reassigned.
• Preserve physical evidence, such as damaged harnesses or broken fall-protection anchors.
• Photograph the scene from multiple angles, including those that capture the weather conditions and the absence of warning signage.
• Decline recorded statements from insurance adjusters until you have counsel.
• Call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyersfor a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Legal outcomes often turn on subtle local factors:

• Venue selection: Bristol County jurors empathize with blue-collar injuries; filing locally rather than in Suffolk County can influence damages.
• Union dynamics: Many Fall River trades are affiliated with regional local unions, including the IBEW, LIUNA, or the Carpenters; contract terms regarding safety responsibilities and indemnification must be reviewed.
• Portuguese and Cape Verdean communities: Language access and cultural competence make it easier for witnesses to testify.
• Regional economic impact: Ongoing waterfront redevelopment means multiple overlapping contractors; identifying the correct defendant requires familiarity with the project hierarchy.
• Medical networks, including Southcoast Health, Saint Anne's, and Boston teaching hospitals, employ different billing structures that affect lien negotiations.

Q: "Do I still have a case if I receive workers' comp benefits?"
Yes. Workers' compensation is only one layer of protection. A separate third-party lawsuit may result in significantly broader damages.

Q: "What if I am an undocumented worker?"
Massachusetts law protects all workers, regardless of immigration status, from workers' compensation and third-party negligence claims.

Q: "How is fault proven on a busy construction site?"
We combine OSHA-standard analysis, industry-specific evidence, contract safety clauses, and expert reconstruction to identify each actor's duty and potential breach.

Q: "Can family members sue for emotional distress?"
In catastrophic injury cases, spouses can claim loss of consortium, and the immediate family may pursue wrongful death damages if a loved one is killed.

Q: "What does it cost to hire your firm?"
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee—you pay no attorney fee unless we win or settle your case.

Construction injuries change lives instantly; paychecks stop, medical bills pile up, and the path back to work is uncertain. Insurance companies count on you being too stressed or uninformed to fight for full compensation. Don't go through this alone. Put a dedicated South Coast legal team on your side.

• Free home, hospital, or virtual consultations are available.
• 24/7 emergency response at (508) 974-3304 or through our online form.
• Decades of proven results for injured workers and their families.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers stands up for the men and women who build our communities. If you or someone you love has been injured on a construction site in Fall River or anywhere in Massachusetts, call us today and let us help you secure the justice and financial security you deserve.

Fall River Office

99 S Main St #350
Fall River, MA 02721
Phone: (508) 974-3304